Display device



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J. SCHNEIDER, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

.DISPLAY DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,788, dated April 16, 1895.

Application filed December 4, 1893. seen No. 492,710. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK .T. SCHNEI- DER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Devices for Displaying Goods, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to be found in the provision of means for displaying fabrics to a customer by artificial light, during the day time.

My invention consists in means for displaying fabrics by artificial light in the day time, which means, when not inuse, are stored away in an exceedingly small compass and positioned at such a. height relatively to the counter, as to be out of the way of the customer and salesman.

My invention consists further, in the combination of a depending receptacle, a folding canopy, an artificial light within the canopy, and means for raising and lowering said canopy whereby the same is closed and open.

My invention consists further in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a side view partly in section showing the device open. Fig. 2, is a side View partly in section showing the device closed. Fig. 3, is a side elevation, in detail, illustrating the automatic lamp switch.

In the construction of the device as shown, the numeral designates a tube, adapted to be suspended from a ceiling, which tube is open at its lower end, and provided with an opening in one side of the upper end portion. A pulley (11) is mounted within the upper end portion of the tube 10, and a pulley (12) is secured to the ceiling adjacent to the said tube.

- An endless cord (13) is woven through the pulleys, 11, 12, and passes through the tube 10 and through the opening in the upper end portion of said tube. A tube (14.) of much less diameter than the tube 10 is vertically positioned within the latter tube and secured at its upper end portion to the ceiling. An incandescent electric light wire (15) is extended downward through the tube 14:, and provides current to an incandescent lamp (16) secured to the lower end of said tube. The thumb piece (17) of the lamp (16) is connected to.

the lower end of a spring (18), the upper end of which spring is secured to a collar (19) mounted about the tube 14:.

A collapsible canopy (20), constructed like an ordinary umbrella Without a statf, is mounted about the tube 14, said tube serving as a staff therefor, the collar 21 at the convergence of the ribs, being connected to the endless cord. The canopy 20 is provided with curtains (22) depending from the periphery thereof and adapted to inclose a space above the counter. (23), as shown in Fig. l.

An opening is provided in the front of the curtains through which the customer may View the fabrics exhibited within the curtains, and an opening isprovided in the rear of said curtains, through which the salesman has access to the interior.

A hook (24) is hinged to the collar (21) and depending therefrom, is adapted to engage the collar (25) at the convergence of the braces 25, when the canopy is opened.

In the practical use of'my invention, the device being in the position as shown in Fig. 2,

and it being desired to open the same for use,

the goods or fabrics are first placed upon the counter directly beneath the device, and the cord is drawn downward through the tube (10), and in so doing the canopy is withdrawn from the tube 10. A further downward movement of the canopy causes the collar (25) to contact with the collar (19) and depress the spring (l8), thus rotatively moving the thumb piece (17) and turning on the incandescent light in the lamp (16), the said downward pull being continued until the hook (24.) engages with the collar (25) and firmly locks the canopy in an open position, as shown in. Fig. 1. By this means an inclosure is formed, from which the day light is excluded, which is lighted brilliantly by the radiance from the lamp (l6), and through the openings in which the fabrics on the interior thereof may be viewed.

It is obvious that by the foregoing means, the appearance and coloring of fabrics intended for evening wear, may be readily ascertained under the artificial conditions attendant upon the use of the fabrics as wearing apparel.

When it is desired to close the device, the

hook 24 is manually disengaged from the collar (25), and the cord caused to travel in a reverse direction and draw the canopy upward within the tube 10. It is obvious that upon the release of pressure upon the spring (18), the thumb piece (17) will be reversely rotated and cut off the incandescent lamp.

Having thus described myinvention, what Iclaim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is

1. In a display device the combination of a tube adapted. to depend from a ceiling, an endless cord passed longitudinally through said tube, pulleys supporting said cord, a collapsible canopy fixed to said cord, a tube mounted within said tube, an electric conductor within the lattertube, and an electric incandescent lamp fixed to the lower end of said latter tube and connected to said conductor.

2. A display device comprising a tube adapted to depend from a ceiling and open at its loWerend, an opening in the upper end portion of said tube, a pulley mounted within said tube adjacent to said opening, a pulley mounted" outside said tube adjacent to said opening, an endless cord passed through said pulleys, the said opening-and the said tube; a collapsible canopy fixed to said cord; means for automatically locking said canopy in an open position a lesser tube mounted within the first said'tube, an incandescentlamp fixed to the lower end of the lesser tube; a spring automatically operated in the opening and closing of said canopy to cut on and off the electric light; and curtains depending from the periphery of said canopy and provided with means of access thereto.

In testimony whereof I hereunto have set my hand, this 16th day of March,1S93, in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK J. SCHNEIDER.

In presence of S. 0. SWEET, J. A. CAMP. 

